Wild winds leave a cool wake

Wild winds leave a cool wake

Gale force winds were recorded in many parts of the country today with reports of roofs blowing loose in Christchurch and someone getting their power line taken out by a flying trampoline. "Wellington, Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill cities have been experiencing gusts of 100 kph, with more exposed places in these regions gusting up to 120 kph," reported Meteorologist Emma Blades. "Heavy rain has fallen in the Tararuas this morning, with 100mm in 6 hours and torrential falls of 30mm per hour," added Blades. A Severe Weather Warning and Watch was issued for this event and will be reviewed this evening as the wild conditions start to ease.

The stormy weather leaves behind a cooler southwesterly flow to start the week, with winds still strong for many areas, especially the far south. Showers are forecast for locations exposed to the southwest flow on Monday and Tuesday. The coolest temperatures will be in the South Island, with Southland struggling to make double digits on Monday.

A front then moves onto the South Island on Wednesday, then over the remainder of the country on Thursday. Warmer northwest winds will precede the front, bringing the temperatures back up to the low twenties for most of the South Island. North Island centres remain in the high teens through the week. A period of rain will sweep the country as the front moves north, with heavy falls for Westland and Fiordland, returning us to a cooler southwesterly flow by the end of the week.

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